BOOKS UNBOUND
Artfully Recycling
the Printed Page

Books Unbound is a community-wide project to recycle old books into art, which will be exhibited and auctioned in a fund-raiser silent auction to benefit the Library on Friday, October 3 at 7:00 pm.

This project was inspired by the relatively new, but rapidly growing art form called Altered Books.

"Disasters; Twister Series; Yellow Pages”(above) and "Ruffled Collar" (right) by Doug Beube
What Is an Altered Book? The International Society of Altered Book Artists (ISABA) explains that an altered book is any book, ...recycled by creative means into a work of art. The book can be painted, cut into, ..., added to, re-bound, collaged in, or otherwise adorned or altered…and, yes, it is legal!
How Do I Participate in Books Unbound? Everyone, artist and non-artist alike, is invited to join in the fun and be part of Books Unbound. You do not need to live in Westport or even in Connecticut. Start with an old book (see Book Grab above); then alter it however you like— there are no rules. You’re the artist! Download a bibliography (p.1, p. 2) of the Library's titles on altered books. For guidelines on making and submitting an Altered Book to the October 3 auction, download this form, fill it out, and deliver it with your submission to the Library's Circulation Desk by September 2 at the latest. If you plan to create an Altered Book for the October 3 auction and have not already filled out a contact form, please send your name, email address, and phone number as soon as possible to ctimmons@westportlibrary.org. Take a look a the results of a beginning exercise in altering postcards in the recent Altered Book Workshops given by Westport Continuing Education, taught by Cecelia Marshall, and held at Westport Library.
Where Can I See More Examples of Altered Books? Below are several more examples of altered books and a handful of web sites, where you’ll find further examples. You can also Google “Altered Books” for many more sites. From “Redline” by Jeff Woodbury (above) [jeffwoodbury.com] From “Book People IV: Post Doc” by Guy Laramée (left) [Guy Laramée Artworks]. Websites: Brian Dettmer: Book Autopsies Jenny's Altered Books Ingrid Dijkers Altered Books Silver Moon Studios Glitz-oh Book Sculptures Ad for Anagram Bookshop, Prague, Czech Republic Altered Book Exhibit “Recycling Magic,” an exhibit of altered books from the collection of the Portland Public Library in Portland, Maine, will be featured in the Riverwalk Display Case from May 15-July 24.  The Book Bracelet by Megan Dunne (above) and Billy Goat the Counselor by Sachiyo Yoshida (right), from Portland Public Library collection.[portlandlibrary.com] A Magical Recycling Program It happens over time. A book’s pages rip out and are lost. Its worn binding breaks and tears away. Or its information goes out of date. And little by little a book’s useful life may come to an end— but it doesn’t have to! The growing art form called Altered Books offers such volumes a new life. Pages can become the canvas for painting or collage. Images can be added from elsewhere. Text might get rearranged to convey a new message. A binding may get reshaped into a lively outline of, say, a tree. In short, one precious art form magically transforms into another—Books Unbound.

Last updated: 4/14/09